Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1909 — How Animals Climb. [ARTICLE]

How Animals Climb.

In adapting ourselves to circumstances we might certainly do worse than take a lesson from the animals. For Instance, the way in which certain squirrels have adapted themselves to tree climbing is wonderful indeed. On the undersurface of their tails a group of African squirrels have developed certain structures which may be well compared to the climbing irons used by men. These take the form of transverse rows of large, triangular, horny scales, with their points turned inward. When pressed against the bark of a tree these scales enter the wood and afford material aid in climbing. Ant eaters have adopted the same principle. They are covered with scales, and they do not fail to make the most of them when climbing. Certain bats appear to have found their hooklike thumbs and hind feet insufficient for purposes of suspension. Accordingly they have developed suckers, which, in the form of stalked disks, are attached to the sides of their feet.